Exactly. It isn't about whether they like/want to hear the music.
Music in worship has just as much purpose as the sermon and scripture.
The organ prelude is there to assist people to move mentally and
spiritually from the distractions of the outside world to an attitude of
worship. The postlude lifts them up and sends them forth into it. When
people talk and carry one during them, they not only receive no benefit
from the music and the time themselves, they distract and deter others
who are trying to prepare themselves.
Of course, that assumes worship is participatory, and not a
spectator/entertainment venue - how backwards and old-fashioned of me...
My church is pretty good about the prelude - it is after the call to
worship. Has to be short, but at least they do realize it is part of
the service. We have two traditional services. One is very attentive
from the CtoW onward. The other talk through the prelude - but then
they also talk through the scriptures, prayers, anthem, basically
everything except the sermon - and sometimes a few will talk during
that. (Makes me wonder why they didn't just stay home and watch TV.)
Oops - there I go sounding like an old fuddy-duddy again.
Pining for the good-ole-days when an "awe" and respect for God was a
part of worship and not just a praise chorus,
Margo
Darrell Coons wrote:
> Le 30 août 2004, à 10:09, Margo Dillard a écrit :
>
>
>>Speaking of shouting matches - yesterday I had not one, but 2! clusters
>>of people standing near the front of the church YELLING at the top of
>>their lungs all the way through the postlude. Hello! Perhaps you
>>might
>> take that conversation outside where you (and everyone else) can
>>hear.
>>I was soooooo tempted to stop abruptly in the middle!
>>
>>Margo
>>
>
>
> In my church this sorry thing happens during the PRELUDE. No matter how
> loud the music is (and yes, sometimes I do play loud preludes,
> especially on festival days), there are little cliques in the
> congregation who are always a few decibels louder catching up on the
> week's gossip. What bugs me is not that "nobody appreciates my music"
> but rather that these people show no respect for others who are there
> to meditate, read their Bibles, and yes, maybe even listen to the
> music. Having said that, I do admit it's a sticky situation to address.
>
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--
Dr. Margo Dillard
Organist, FUMC, Lewisville, TX
Musical Feast Choral Society
Dillard Piano & Organ Studio
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Note: opinions expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the individual con-
tributors and not necessarily those of the list owners nor of the Uni-
versity at Albany. For a brief summary of list commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask] saying GET LSVCMMDS.TXT or see the web
page at http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/lsvcmmds.html .
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